Trump warns Americans not to reject unpopular ‘Golden goose’ data centers
Former President Donald Trump urged Americans not to reject data centers, touting them as essential for economic progress, tax revenue, and job creation. He criticized states that shun data center development, while Vice President J.D. Vance suggested a more nuanced approach where data centers should contribute power back to the grid. The article highlights that data centers have become a bipartisan hot-button issue, leading some governors to impose new regulations or construction pauses.
Former President Donald Trump issued a warning to Americans against rejecting data centers, asserting that these power-intensive facilities are crucial for economic progress and prosperity. Trump stated that communities that embrace data centers would benefit from increased tax revenue and lower unemployment, contrasting them with those that would become "backwards and poor" if they shunned such developments. He cautioned that rejecting data centers would be akin to "killing the Golden Goose," implying a loss of opportunities.
Conversely, Vice President J.D. Vance offered a more moderate perspective, suggesting that data centers should ideally generate their own power or feed energy back into the grid, rather than solely drawing from it. Vance believes that if data centers contribute to the energy infrastructure, their controversial nature might diminish. This stance was echoed during a campaign event with Michigan Republican U.S. Senate candidate Mike Rogers, who supports data center development.
The article notes that data centers have emerged as a contentious midterm election issue, with significant bipartisan opposition among voters. This public sentiment has prompted elected officials and candidates to re-evaluate their positions. Notably, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul recently enacted an executive order imposing a one-year pause on new data center construction, a move criticized by Trump. Additionally, both Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) have shifted from strong support to implementing new regulations in response to growing public opposition as Election Day approaches.